Constellation · Cir
Circinus
The Drawing Compass
A tiny southern constellation next to Alpha Centauri, named for a pair of dividers used in drawing.
Magnitude 3.18
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (summer in the northern hemisphere)
Latitudes where every part of it rises above the horizon at some time of year
The whole sky covers about 41,253 square degrees
Stars brighter than about magnitude 6, the naked-eye limit under dark skies
Can you see Circinus from where you live?
This depends only on your latitude. Pick the row nearest to you; for your exact sky tonight, use the sky map.
| Latitude | Circinus |
|---|---|
| 60°N | Never rises |
| 40°N | Never rises |
| 20°N | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 40°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
| 60°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
Questions about Circinus
When is Circinus best seen?
Circinus stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in June. That makes summer evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Circinus?
The brightest star in Circinus is Alpha Circini, magnitude 3.18.
Where on Earth can you see Circinus?
The whole of Circinus can be seen from latitudes between about 90°S and 19°N. From 40°N: Never rises. From 35°S: Visible all night, all year (it never sets).
What does Circinus mean?
Circinus is Latin for "the Drawing Compass". Introduced by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the 1750s.